Shower head having a constant volume automatic flow control device therein



n6 fi 7 Nov. 7, 1961 J. FRASER 3,007,648

HAVING ONSTANT VOLU AUTOMATIC ow com DEVICE THER SHOWER HEAD Filed April20, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS Edward 5. MZealv Ja'mas flmsez'ATTORNEYS J. FRASER 3,007,648 SHOWER HEAD HAVING A CONSTANT VOLUMEAUTOMATIC Nov. 7, 1961 FLOW CONTROL DEVICE THEREIN 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed April 20, 1959 INVENTORS Zimml 6f MZeazv James Frms'er BY MATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,007,648 SHOWER HEAD HAVING A CONSTANTVOLUME AUTOMATIC FLOW CONTROL DEVICE THEREIN James Fraser, Wilmington,Del., assignor to Speakman Company, Wilmington, Del. Filed Apr. 20,1959, Ser. No. 807,381 3 Claims. (Cl. 239-460) This invention relates toa combination of a flow control device and valve structure.

One of the problems encountered in the modern community is the excessiveuse of water, industrially and domestically. It has become necessary tocontrol the water consumption, particularly in household use. Thepresent invention is for a flow control device that can be installed inconjunction with ordinary valve fixtures for use in controlling the flowof water and the quantity of water, and the individual problems of eachseparate installation.

It is an object of the present invention to so mount the control valvewith the volume control device so as to permit ready access for repairwithout extensive dismantling of the assembly.

It is another object of the present invention to combine a flow controldevice with an ordinary plumbing fixture without excessive redesigningof the fixture.

The various features of novelty which characterize this invention arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming partof this specification. For a better understanding of the invention,however, its advantages and specific objects obtained by its use,reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptivematter in which have been illustrated a preferred embodiment of theinvention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view, partially broken awayto show the mounting of the flow control unit.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view on line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view on line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view on line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a modification of this invention.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view on line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a horizontal sectional view on line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

Referring more in detail to the drawings; a vandal proof shower headhaving a base plate 20 is attached to its support (not shown), andsupports a casing 22, shown in FIG. 1. Across the lower end of thecasing is a face plate 23 having plungers 24, 24 therein and beingattached to the casing by means of machine screws 25, 25. Water isadmitted to the casing by means of inlet 26, shown in FIG. 2, and passesthrough the conduit 27 through the yielding apertured disk type flowcontrol device assembly 28 (shown in FIG. 3), and flows into the casingthrough the vents 29, 29, shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. The flow controldevice is held in position by means of the cap 30 which seals oil theopening in the casing.

When mounting a shower head of this type, the shower head is fastened tothe support, and the water supply inlet 26 is attached to the casing sothat the conduit 27' is in communication with the inlet 26. The plungers24, 24 are adjusted in the face plate 23 and the water control valve(not shown) is then opened. A constant volume spray is then delivered bythis shower head regardless 3,007,648 Patented Nov. 7, 1961 ice 2 ofvariations in pressure of the water admitted to the inlet 26.

If it is desired to repair the regulator the cap 30 is removed, theregulator withdrawn and either repaired or replaced by a new one. Thisdoes not require the dismantling of the assembly and permits readyaccess to the flow control unit.

The second modification of the device is shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7,wherein a manually controlled shower head has a casing 32, shown in FIG.5. This casing has an inlet 33 at one end and a face plate 34 at theother end. The plungers 35, 35 are suspended on the yoke 36 and areretained within the opening in the face plate by means of this yokewhich is suspended by the pin 37 attached to the eccentric 38, which isrotated by the handle 39, the plunger therefore being manuallyadjustable. The upper end of the casing has attached thereto a balljoint 40. Retained the ball joint, by means of the lip 41, is a yieldingapertured disk type flow control device 42, shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

On assembly, the shower head has inserted within its ball joint the flowcontrol device, and is then attached to the supply pipe having a waterinlet 33. When the water is admitted through this inlet, the water iscontrolled by a valve (not shown) and it then flows past the flowcontrol device 42 and into the shower head casing 32. The force of thisspray is controlled by adjusting the plungers by means of the handle 39Within the face plate 34 but the volume of the spray is maintainedconstant by means of the yielding apertured disk type flow controldevice. When it is desired to either replace or inspect this device, theshower head is removed from the inlet 33 and the flow control device maythen be removed firom the ball joint. It is not necessary to remove theface plate 34 or in any way disassemble the shower head.

The automatic flow control device referred to above is of .the yieldingapertu-rcd type and usually comprises a bottom portion and an upperportion and a resilient portion therebet-Ween which maintains a constantflow of water usually about 4 /2 gals. per minute from the shower headregardless of the pressure in the water main. This device is automaticand does not require any manual adjustment. It is not a manual valvesimilar to the usual shut-oil valves associated with some shower heads,but does comprise a unit which is placed wholly within the shower headand is not capable of adjustment without dis-assembling the shower head.

While in accordance with the provisions of the statute, the best formsof embodiment of this invention have been illustrated and described, itwill be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made inthe forms of the apparatus disclosed without departing from the spiritof this invention as set forth in the appended claims and that in somecases certain features may be used to advantage without a correspondinguse of other features.

What is claimed is:

1. In a shower head producing a relatively constant volume showerirrespective of water pressure in the water main, the combinationcomprising: a casing having a water supply inlet and a spray outlet, aball joint between the water main and the water supply inlet, anautomatic flow control device comprising a supported bottom portion, amovable upper portion, a resilient portion between said upper and saidbottom portion, said automatic flow control device being positioned inthe ball joint between the Water main and the casing, said spray outletcomprising a face plate having apertures therein and plungers manually,"adjustably retained within the casing.

2. In a shower head producing a relatively constant volume showerirrespective of water pressure in the water main, the combinationcomprising: a casing having a water supply inlet and a spray outlet, anautomatic flow control device comprising a supported bottom portion, amovable upper portion, a resilient portion between said upper and saidbottom portion, said automatic flow con trol device being positionedbetween the Water main and the casing, said spray outlet comprising aface plate having apertures therein and plungers within the aperturefixed Within the casing.

3. In a shower head producing a relatively constant volume showerirrespective of water pressure in the Water main, the combinationcomprising: a casing having a Water supply inlet and a spray outlet, anautomatic flow control device comprising a supported bottom portion, amovable upper portion, a resilient portion between said upper and saidbottom portion, said automatic flow control device being positioned inthe source of Water supply whereby the Water flowing through the inletmust pass through the flow control device before entering the 5 casing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re.20,488 Zinkil Aug. 24, 1937 2,084,156 Marsden June 15, 1937 2,534,549Fraser Dec, 19, 1950 2,756,108 Warren July 24, 1956 2,948,300 FraserAug. 9, 1960

